Wednesday, 6 April 2016

‘He keeps me from the grave’

-Brian Mendonça

He keeps me from the grave

and blesses me with love and
mercy.

He fills my life with good
things,

So that I stay young and strong
like an eagle.

(Bible, Psalm 103)

The words of the psalmist for Easter Sunday seem so
true in the light of the risen Lord.*Reflecting
on the beautiful verse, it is easy to imagine how everyday ‘He keeps me from the grave.’ I am held
in the palm of His hand so I can rise and see a new day in the munificence of
Spring. Because, like a tender shoot, I am nurtured by his love and mercy, ‘I stay young and strong like an eagle.’

The implicit trust one has in the Lord is a rare
thing. Yet if one traces back the years, so often it is the Lord who has
brought us to safe harbour. As in the
case of Pundalik and his wife Daisy, when nothing was working out, the Lord
showed them the way.

Driving down, I used to see his vehicle parked by
the side of the road in the evenings. On one occasion I pulled over and
purchased some of the reasonably priced items to supplement our dinner. Until
the next customer rolled by, he would spend the time in prayer.

One day I
had a tête-à-têtewith Pundalik as the cars whizzed past. He told me that he and his wife
had been IT professionals for twelve years in Pune but they were not happy in
their jobs. They moved to Goa. He even
spent time in the Middle East hoping to send some money home to make ends meet.
However when he reached Dubai he was double-crossed and made to work for things
that were not agreed upon. Salaries were
delayed for months. Fed up he left and returned to Goa.

Clutching at straws, and believing strongly in his
wife’s cooking, Pundalik embarked on the bold idea to sell Daisy’s homemade dishes as takeaways by
the wayside. The idea took off and soon people were placing orders from far and
wide to avail of their signature preparations.

I was drawn to Pundalik’s story because years back
when we left Delhi -- after ten years -- to return to Goa I too was clutching
at straws. With time not on my side I was wondering what I could do in Goa. I
then decided to swoop down to Goa even if I had to sell Queenie’s prawn curry
rice. That didn’t actually happen but it was reassuring to have Plan B. Things
worked out for us in the Lord’s time – despite the numerous naysayers. Truly,
when you are convinced about a decision, the universe aligns itself to your
purpose.

Pundalik and Daisy take heart from the verse ‘I can do all things through Him who
strengthens me’ (Philippians 4: 13). They had busted all the myths. Now
they live on their own terms. Praise the Lord!